Patriots 24-20 Jaguars: Pats into another Super Bowl
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Last year’s winners face off against a team few expected to see the playoffs let alone make it to the AFC Championship game. This is a game between two teams with vastly different histories in the league. The Patriots are the definition of a footballing dynasty under Bill Belichick while the Jaguars have never won a Super Bowl. They are celebrating their first division title this century, however, and will be keen to prove they belong up there with the very best and they could also be the team to put an end to the Patriots reign after reports surfaced just a few short weeks ago that the relationship between Robert Kraft, the Patriots owner, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady had not yet expired but was starting to turn sour.
New England Patriots
The big news coming out of Patriots training during the week was the injury to Tom Brady’s throwing hand. Arguably, the greatest quarterback to ever throw a spiral, Brady’s health is of paramount importance to the Patriots’ chances.
Brady refused to answer questions about his hand after practice on Friday but waxed lyrical about their opponents on Sunday: “It's the best team we've faced all year. They're here for a reason. They obviously are a top-ranked defense in the league. Great players at all levels. Really well coached. Scoring a lot of points. So, we're going to have to play really well."
When asked, semi-jokingly, whether it was a “thumbs up or a thumbs down for Sunday,” he replied that he wasn’t talking about it (the reported cut on his thumb). He remains questionable on the injury report and you have to feel that his absence or inclusion will go a long way to deciding who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Nicknamed Sack-sonville for their ability to get to the quarterback, they will be hoping to have Brady, if he plays, or Hoyer shaking in their boots in the pocket. Their team is built around their defence and they will be hoping that their reputation alone will be enough to have a skittish QB under centre whenever they take to the field.
After a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that few saw coming last weekend, the Jaguars are now in a ‘nothing-to-lose’ position as they try to beat the greatest team of this century to a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and a third in four years.
Doug Marrone, the Jaguars head coach, had a healthy Blake Bortles practice fully on Friday but Leonard Fournette, the team’s running back was limited in action in the build-up to the big game.